Getting Started on your Journey - A Guide to Prepare for the Physical Therapy OCS Exam
The OCS is still a few months away. You may even be trying to decide whether it is worth your time and money to take the exam. Once the decision is made, it’s time to get organized. However, with the amount of material available, deciding where to begin can be overwhelming. How you study for the OCS exam will determine if you achieve a passing grade.
With a comprehensive exam like the OCS, it is important to use several resources. What you use depends on your preferred learning style and experience. For example, if you are coming from a residency program and EIM was used extensively, you will want to mix it up and use a program like Medbridge. As someone who had been in the field for a long time, I stuck with the Medbridge program and also used supplemental material such as Clinical Concepts and the CPG’s. More about all of this below!
Start out with the Orthopedic Specialists Certification Candidate Guide
The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties publishes its candidate guide each year, which is an important starting point. It describes the requirements to sit for the exam, the application process, how to schedule your exam time, as well as general information about preparing to study for the OCS exam. The content outline and sample questions are useful for getting organized. Think of the candidate guide as your roadmap for the next several months.
Utilize an all-encompassing OCS prep course to study
There are several prep courses on the market these days. I used the Medbridge OCS prep course as my primary study guide. I thought it did a great job organizing topics into manageable sections. It is primarily video-focused, but the slides are downloadable as references. There are sample exams to help test your knowledge. I continue to use the Medbridge platform for home exercise programs and further continuing education. (Full disclosure, I am a Medbridge affiliate, but only because I believe it is a great program. Use code OCStestprep for an amazing deal!)
Evidence in Motion (EIM) also has a self-guided, comprehensive OCS prep course that renews yearly by exam cycle. While I don’t have personal experience with this platform, it has been used by many to study for the exam.
Current Concepts of Orthopaedic PT, 5th Edition, from the Orthopedic Section of the APTA, contains monographs organized regionally, providing a thorough review of anatomy and biomechanics. There is also the application of specific tests and measurements, musculoskeletal pathology, and effective treatment strategies. It is a great platform for those preferring to have information presented in a textbook type of format.
I used several of the monographs as supplemental material. Some monographs are available individually if you have an area you need to emphasize. You can see a full list of the independent study courses offered on the orthopedic section website.
Know the Orthopedic Clinical Practice Guidelines
In 2006, the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy began a project to use the International Classification of Functioning and Disability (ICF) to develop evidence-based practice guidelines. The CPG’s enhance diagnosis, intervention, prognosis, and assessment of outcomes for various musculoskeletal conditions commonly managed by physical therapists.
These guidelines are beneficial as you study for the OCS. While the guidelines do not encompass all conditions, the ones available are useful. Use the CPG’s as a way to nail down outcome measures, clinical prediction rules, and test item clusters. Some of the CPG’s have been updated, so be sure you use the most current.
Study for the OCS with Practice Exams and Quizzes
I started this website during the COVID-19 pandemic, which incidentally began the week I took the OCS in March 2020. I’ve had a lot of success studying with practice exams in college and with other certification exams such as the CSCS. Medbridge and EIM include practice exams, but when I was doing my preparation, I was looking for more. Some of the tests I found online were outdated, or I didn’t like the format.
Considerable time and effort went into the creation of these practice exams. Practice exams and quizzes help with knowledge assessment, stamina, and focus. They also reduce test anxiety, improve timing, and build confidence. Taking digital tests mimics the format of the OCS. Supplemental exams helped me pass the OCS in 2020 and can help you too. The included links can help you get started.
Review JOSPT
The Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy can be a valuable adjunct to your studying. While it may be tough to find the time to read it cover to cover, skimming the headlines and examining at least a few of the articles in more detail can help arm you with the most current review articles and RCTs.
Study any other favorite resources
Since anything is fair game, use your favorite ortho book, anatomy app, or course notes. However, it’s easy to get bogged down, so avoid going down a rabbit hole of too much material. I would advise sticking with a comprehensive review course and supplement from there. If you learn best with others, by all means, put a study group together.
In the end, know that you have prepared to the best of your ability. You’re likely juggling a job, family, and social life. Make the most of your time, and you won’t be disappointed. You’re on your way to becoming Board-Certified in Orthopedics!
Carol Grgic
Carol Grgic, PT, OCS, CSCS is a Physical Therapist practicing in Milwaukee, WI. She recently opened Elite Bodyworks, a cash-pay Physical Therapy clinic in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is the creator of OCStestprep.com and enjoys blogging about Physical Therapy related topics.
I am hoping to purchase the current concepts 4th edition. Do you know of anyone selling a physical copy? I was a part of a residency that used an Ebook, and I would really enjoy a tangible copy. I have contacted the APTA ortho section, and they do not have anymore physical 4th editions left.
Hi Kathryn,
Thanks for your inquiry.
I do not know of anyone with a physical copy for sale at this time, but I will check around. I borrowed some modules from the 3rd edition while studying and now have a digital 5th edition. I agree that sometimes it’s nice to have the physical copy.
I’ll contact you if I come across any 4th editions for sale.
Best, Carol
Hello! If you happened to have used both, did you notice any major discrepancy between the 4th and 5th edition? I currently have the 4th but wondering if it is worth purchasing the 5th as well. Thanks!
Hi,
I did not use the 4th edition, so I’m not as familiar with it. I’m not sure if there are significant updates in the 5th. I studied using some modules from the 3rd and have since purchased the 5th edition. I think there is value in having the most current information and references. I feel that the 5th edition is pretty solid all around, so if it is an option for you, I’d recommend getting it.
I hope that helps, and good luck!
Carol